On August 22, 2018, Xavier hosted their fan-favorite Family Rally. This was a competitive rally between Xavier’s six houses: Canisius, Faber, Claver, Gonzaga, Brebeuf, and Pro. Many students brought their parents to the school for an introduction to the school year and Xavier’s House Spirit. This Wednesday night event saw a significant number of students and an even larger amount of family members who showed up to offer support and enthusiasm for their houses.

Photographed by Adele Benson

For the evening the gym was divided into six sections, giving a righteous amount of space for each house. The houses competed in ambitious games where only one winner was declared. The main aspect of the competitiveness was the spirit and the chanting of the crowd, and, of course, winning house points. According to Pro Deputy, Haley Calasan, “The energy of the crowd was a huge factor to the competitiveness of the participants from each house.” She also stated that “One way to improve the Family Rally for next year was to establish chants that would funnel the crowd’s energy for maximum results.”

Photographed by Adele Benson

Intertwined between the minigames were stunning performances by the Cheer and Dance teams. The Cheer team showcased their exuberant stunts and spirit while the dance team demonstrated their coordination and finesse. The energy from the teams added great depth to the rally as a whole. According to Canisius member Marni McDowell, “the performances were enjoyed by the families, it was a good start to the year.”

Some of the more entertaining games were tug-a-war, musical carpets, and find-your-parent. These games added the most enthusiasm to the rally; excitement emanated from all the houses. According to Faber member, Dalton Kramer, “Being a part of the competitive and playful rally allows students to be eager about the coming school year.” Overall, the competitive spirit and rivalry between the houses led to positive tension and involvement from every person at the rally.

Photographed by Adele Benson

A big difference between this year’s family rally and the previous years was the involvement of the student leaders. Each house was led by a president, vice-president, and two deputies. According to Gonzaga Deputy Ajeet Bir, “the leaders were much more involved with their crowd this year, focusing on them as opposed to the opponents.” It also felt that this year’s family rally also had more total spirit. According to Pro member Melissa Nuno, “Each house had great spirit, but the biggest difference was the amount of spirit in total.”